UT MARTIN SOFTBALL ALUM RENATE MECKL TO PLAY FOR GERMAN NATIONAL SOFTBALL TEAM

June 2, 2017

MARTIN, Tenn. – Even though the collegiate playing career of recent University of Tennessee at Martin softball player Renate Meckl has come to a close, her career is not yet concluded as she was recently named to the German National Softball Team in preparations for the European Softball Championships and Olympic qualifying.

Meckl will join her teammates on the women’s national team of the Deutscher Baseball und Softball Verband e.V. in training for the European Softball Championship which will be held in Bollate, Italy at the end of June. In the meantime, the team will travel to Fort Myers, Florida for 10 days to prepare for the qualifying run in various training sessions and exhibition contests where the squad will play nine games in seven days.

This year’s Softball European Championships will begin of June 25 and run through July 2. Germany is in a group with the Netherlands, Greece, Slovenia, Lithuania and Ireland. The team is made up of 16 players hailing from Germany along with three college players with German heritage to make up a roster of 19 participants.

“I am very excited for this opportunity and it is an honor to be able to play for the German National Team,” said Meckl. “Getting to travel not only to Germany, but France and Italy is unbelievably cool – especially since I have always wanted to travel to Europe. I never could have imagined being able to continue my softball career and travel around Europe all at once but I feel so blessed to get the chance.”

A native of Oconomowoc, Wisc., Meckl spent her four-year playing career as a primary starter at the positions of catcher, outfield and designated player. During her time at UT Martin, Meckl boasted a .283 career batting average with 86 runs scored, 126 hits, 22 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 66 RBIs, 58 walks and 28 stolen bases. Meanwhile defensively, she only recorded eight errors in four seasons for a career fielding percentage of .985.

Meckl best year came during the 2017 campaign which was off to a blistering start before a significant injury sidelined the star for multiple weeks. Despite the shortened season, Meckl still posted career highs with a .326 batting average, 34 runs, 43 hits, nine doubles and two triples while tallying four home runs and 19 RBIs. She also recorded 16 stolen bases.